The New Orleans Saints christened the newly named, and now beautifully lighted on the outside, Mercedes-Benz Superdome in proper fashion by executing a near flawless game plan against their rivals from Super Bowl XLIV, the Indianapolis Colts, last night. I fully expected a double digit victory for the Saints, but I did not quite envision a college-like final score stomping of 62-7 like was witnessed nationwide on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

With or without Peyton Manning at quarterback for the Colts, it was still a very satisfying win against a team that has quite literally owned the Saints at times in the not so distant past. I’m remembering, in particular, one certain Saints home game in 2003 where Payton Manning and his Colts flat out dismantled the home-town Saints by a final score of 55-21. That was in a year of high expectations immediately following the second winning season for the Saints under new head coach Jim Haslett to start the season too. Although, having the venerable Mr. Manning standing on the sideline sending in plays to Curtis Painter last night did add a certain level of extra enjoyment for most Saints fans who remember him walking off the field in Miami at the Super Bowl after his loss to Drew Brees and the Saints without shaking anyone’s hand. I wonder how quickly he wanted to get out of his own home town after this beat-down of a loss last night?

It was a pure delight to watch the New Orleans Saints operate so smoothly without their head play-caller, and Head Coach, Sean Payton on the sideline with the rest of the team. If this was a sign of things to come for the next several weeks while Coach Payton is relegated to having his leg elevated in the booth upstairs during games, the rest of the league that is on this team’s schedule best take notice, and fast!